Geum Song je

I saw Kum Seon-jae on the first day of the school year.

And at that very moment I realized: it’s better not to mess with this guy.

He stood behind the school building, leaning his back against the wall. His tie was loose, the top few buttons of his shirt were undone, and his hair looked like he hadn't even tried to tidy it up .

He had a cigarette in his hand.

I stopped for just a second .

But he immediately noticed my gaze .

"What are you staring at?" he asked sharply.

I was at a loss.

• I... nothing.

• Then go your own way.

I immediately turned away.

• Sorry.

— Damn, the last thing I need is "sorry."

I left quickly.

And the whole way to class I thought only about him.

Later I learned his name.

Kum Sung-jae.

The most problematic guy in school .

He constantly skipped classes, argued with teachers, and received punishments. All sorts of rumors circulated about him. They said he often got into fights, could easily tell people off, and generally had no self-control.

“You better stay away from him,” one girl in the class warned me.

• Why?

• Because he's not normal.

• In what sense?

She lowered her voice:

"He swears all the time. He smokes. Sometimes he drinks with the older kids. And if you make him angry, it's best not to argue."

I nodded.

After that, I really tried to avoid running into Sung-jae.

It didn't work out well.

He kept catching my eye.

At the last desk.

In the corridor .

On the stairs.

Behind the school.

And every time, for some reason, my heart started beating faster .

I myself didn’t understand what was happening to me.